Heirot

"Atul put a mental chokehold on his rushing pulse and gestured to the small room in the corner. "There's not a lot of water on the ship, but this room has a shower. Through there. There should be clean towels."

Tenele smiled. "That's nice. I'll make it quick so I don't use too much water." She climbed out of bed, stumbling on her feet for a moment with how fast she moved. Her head wasn't quite ready for it, but she recovered quickly and slipped off to the wash room. Tenele stepped through the opening. There wasn't really a room, but a narrow place with a space for a shower to the left, and a built in shelf with towels to her right, and no door to close. That didn't bother her, because she hadn't anything to fear about an open area when her husband and friend were lying mere feet away.

Tenele turned the water on, drew her gown over her head, leaving it on the floor at the entrance to the small room. She stepped in. The water was cold, and the shock made her yelp. She jumped to the corner of the shower, taking deep gulps of air until she could gather the courage to step beneath the spout.

Atul and Vlad both jerked upright instinctively at the sound of Tenele's yelp, and they both snickered at the same time as they realized what had happened. "She will be cold after. Prepare yourself," Vlad teased.

Atul blanched a bit, not just at the promise of icy toes on his warm legs but also at the acknowledgement of the physical intimacy between the three of them. He stifled the desire that leapt up into his throat and stretched back into the sheets.

When Tenele was finished she grabbed the biggest, fluffiest towel Atul had and wrapped it around her dripping form. She dried off, dried her hair as much as she could. Shivering, she pulled the towel around her shoulders and stepped back into the bedroom. She climbed onto the bed, and wedged herself between Atul and Vlad.

"No hot water," she told them through chattering teeth.

Atul smirked and pulled the quilts up over her shoulders. Vlad moved close against her, forehead to forehead with his legs tangling comfortably in hers. A cool hand on Atul's arm pulled him into the pile, drawing him up against Tenele's back. The king hesitated just a second before settling in against her, his chest painting a blanket of heat along her icy back while Vlad's hand assured him of his welcome.

Find a wife? Good lord, he'd have to find his breath first.

Tenele sighed, snuggling into the warmth. She closed her eyes and enjoyed being completely encased in security. She hummed, content to be between the to of them. Tenele smiled at her husband, leaning forward to kiss him. "I feel better," she told him confidently. Cold fingers stroked down his arm. Mischievously Tenele reached behind her, and snuck her cold hand beneath Atul's shirt, stroking up his side.

Atul shuddered and drew a harsh gasp at her chilled fingers. "Demon woman," he chided, grabbing her chilled sides and tickling her while she was pinned between them.

"No!" Tenele shouted, struggling to get away. She wiggled, giggling until she thought she couldn't breath. She squirmed and tried to worm her way out from between them. She managed to kick away the quilt, and ended up lying flat on her back with the towel clutched to her the center of her chest. It had come away from her, and draped down her body in a tight bunched line, and tangled around her legs. It managed to cover the more vital areas, but not much.

"S-stop. Can't breathe. Dying," she panted, silver hair washing over her face so she couldn't see. Despite the lack of oxygen, she was warmer now.

Tenele was apparently too occupied with the tickling to notice that the eyes of both men had gradually shifted from deviously amused to keen and alert, like big cats hunting. If their link weren't quickly fading from earlier in the day, she would have known instantly the moment Vlad's nerves sharpened into lustful interest. Atul captured her tightly against him while Vlad's nose pried into the crook of her neck. The grip of their arms and legs was suddenly more than playful, holding her to the bed between them. With their strength, they could have kept her there all day if they chose.

Tenele struggled lightly against their hold, slowly starting to take note of how the mood was shifting. Her stomach did a flip, excitement fluttering through her. Pressed down into the bed by the both of them, it made her mind fill with all sorts of intriguing thoughts. Her breath fanned out across Atul's chest, and she tilted her head so Vlad had better access to her neck. She still struggled playfully, pretending to escape without really wanting to.

Her green eyes fluttered up, peering through strands of silver hair at Atul. She gave him a pretty, not so innocent smile, pushing against him with her hands. She could use all the strength she had in her body, but if they wanted to keep her, she knew they could. There was something intoxicating about that, about being vulnerable to two immensely powerful men... and never being in any danger.

"Shouldn't you let me go, your highness?" Tenele asked him softly, mock innocence making it into her voice. "I wouldn't want to keep you from any duties you may have."

"I am a king," Atul purred. "I am not easily pulled away from something I like."

"Aren't you comfortable, maiden girl?" Vlad crooned against her neck, closing his lips over the soft flesh while her heartbeat toyed with his senses.

Tenele swallowed hard, glancing between the two of them. "Somewhat," she murmured as Vlad's lips closed over the skin of her neck, settling down a little more so that she let her body rest fully on the soft mattress. She reached up to push her damp hair from her face, but her hands were still pinned in the tangled limbs of their bodies.

"Still," she pointed out as the shadows of people above them moved across the floor. "The walls are thin."

"Then," Vlad murmured, "We had best keep our mouths occupied." His fingers roamed over her stomach, no longer tickling. He would have expected sharing with Atul to be so amusing, but watching Tenele squirm, trapped between them, was enough to send heat raging through his cold nerves.

The vampire leaned over his lady and covered her mouth with his, drawing the towel away to allow him access to the rest of her. Atul slid lower on the bed and trailed his mouth's heat from the skin at her waist, gradually lower.

Tenele melted into his kiss, her arms twining around his neck. She drew her face away, moaning softly as Atul's lips trailed lower. "This isn't fair," she protested, sparing a glance at Atul. The feel of his black hair washing over her skin tickled, and his lips were hot and wet. She kissed her husband again, running her fingers through his hair. She drew back for a second, eyeing him warily. "Is this pay back for torturing you last night?"

"I have no idea what you mean," Vlad's lips melded to hers while Atul's melded elsewhere.

They were thorough with her. For a while, Vlad's fingers even joined Atul's tongue at her center. The torturous pleasure went on and on until she was more than paid back in triple for the careless teasing she's put them through.